Diesels "£#*@!!!

Foghorn Leghorn · 24 Dec 2009 at 20:16

Not content with my bike breaking down (suspected faulty CDI), the ABS light on in my wifes car (the battery also threw the towel in this week). I've now snapped a glow plug electrode off in my car :mad:

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Going to get some carbon remover and leave it to soak, see if I can't fire the little sucker out.

Anyone else have any genius suggestions, I really don't fancy ripping the head off it.

Fog

SB118 · 24 Dec 2009 at 20:18

Mustard?

Foghorn Leghorn · 24 Dec 2009 at 20:23

SB118 said:
Mustard?

Thanks, raised a smile.

I've been wandering around muttering and grumbling all afternoon. 15 minute job turns into a disaster :rolleyes:

Fog

Ricochet J · 24 Dec 2009 at 20:30

Long nosed pliars?

Foghorn Leghorn · 24 Dec 2009 at 20:46

Ricochet J said:
Long nosed pliars?

Sadly it's sheered off flush, about 2" inside the head.

The only other option I can think of is to drill out the centre of the electrode, tap it, then slide hammer it out. Going to need some seriously long drills and taps though

Fog

Lakeland · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:10

a thread extractor is what you need, id probably just get a small local engineering firm to take it out for a few quid! (obv not going to happen for a gd few days :/ )

SB118 · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:13

Snapped plugs is a bugger, leave it to soak, then spin it over with the other plugs out (gives it maximum umph if it's not working against compression)

Stonedofmoo · 25 Dec 2009 at 11:13

So what exactly does the thread title have to do with your bungling of a simple job. It's not the cars fault

Foghorn Leghorn · 26 Dec 2009 at 15:23

Stonedofmoo said:
So what exactly does the thread title have to do with your bungling of a simple job. It's not the cars fault

not a lot.....

Been speaking to a friend who runs his own garage, he laughed :mad:

. Reckons it's luck of the draw if they come out in one piece or not. Usually it's the main body that snaps off just below the hex nut, he's got a kit for removing them if that happens.

I might just refit the broken plug and pretend it never happened

Fog

PermaBanned · 26 Dec 2009 at 15:52

Doesn't look like an electrode rather than... well, has your wife been hiding 'personal items' in your car?

Foghorn Leghorn · 26 Dec 2009 at 16:05

Superewza said:
Doesn't look like an electrode rather than... well, has your wife been hiding 'personal items' in your car?

That's the problem, the electrode isn't there, it should be where the little wire bit is

Fog

*Moangroan* · 26 Dec 2009 at 16:47

How come the little electrode has not fallen straight into the pot. Is the hole conical shape so its impossible.

So if that bit of wire cam out then there will be a hole in the bit stuck in can you not screw something into it ??

Foghorn Leghorn · 26 Dec 2009 at 17:50

It's siezed in place, assuming because of a carbon buildup. I'm considering drilling out the centre ceramic and tapping it. The problem is how deep inside the head the piece of electrode is, I'd need a 3.6-3.7mm drill and an M4 tap that are about 100mm long

.

Currently procrastinating, there's too much nice food and beer available + it's raining out. I'm hoping if I ignore it long enough it might go away

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Edit: I might be wrong but I'm not sure it can fall into the pot, I think the injector is in the way.

Fog

*Moangroan* · 26 Dec 2009 at 18:03

Have a look see if you can get a long screw extractor (or ''easy out'' depending on what you call them)

Lakeland · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:40

you will need a left handed thread to remove wont you

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:00

does the thread open out normally into the combustion area?

try chopping the lectrod off another one and turn that down into it, force the broken part down and through?

then spit that out?

good luck getting taps that length. normally easier to remove head turn it upside down and do it that way.

take a photo of the hole if you can.

Dogbreath · 26 Dec 2009 at 23:21

*Moangroan* said:
Have a look see if you can get a long screw extractor (or ''easy out'' depending on what you call them)

The part stuck in the head is not threaded, it's just the actual heated part of the glow plug the protrudes into the combustion chamber.

It might get fired out with the engine running under load, but if it does it will come out with considerable force, enough to dent the bonnet or cause injury if you have any body parts in the way!

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 23:23

must be a snug fit if thats all thats keeping it in place, ie no thread.

if thats the case long rod and hammer it down. spit it out exhaust (hopefully lol) more likely getting it jammed in a valve seat.

could try to retrieve it up but again good luck.

Dogbreath · 27 Dec 2009 at 09:27

Biohazard said:
must be a snug fit if thats all thats keeping it in place, ie no thread..

The thread is on the part shown in the OPs picture.

Dave L · 28 Dec 2009 at 21:22

There is no way I would advise hammering it into the engine - you will cause serious damage.

Personally I think removing it without taking the head off it going to be very tricky.

I can only suggest cranking the engine on the starter with the stop solenoid disconnected and see if it pops out.

Stand well clear and perhaps cover any delicate parts of the engine beforehand.

All at your own risk, of course.